Cookie Policy



Version: 1.1 Effective: 01 June 2026 Last reviewed: 01 June 2026

1. What This Policy Covers

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies this site sets, why it sets them, who has access to the information they contain, and how you can control them.

This site uses CQI Consent, a self-hosted consent banner plugin built for affiliate publishers. CQI Consent is part of the CQIP ecosystem, governed by The Content Framework. It does not connect to any third-party consent management platform. No consent data leaves this server.

This policy covers:

  • Cookies set directly by this site (first-party cookies).
  • Cookies set by affiliate networks and analytics platforms this site integrates with (third-party cookies), where applicable.
  • The two consent signals written by CQI Consent: cqi_consent_marketing and gcd.
This site does not use programmatic advertising. No cookies are set by advertising exchanges, demand-side platforms, or real-time bidding networks. The IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) does not apply.

2. What a Cookie Is

A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your device when you visit. Cookies allow the site to remember information about your visit — for example, whether you have already made a consent choice — so that it does not need to ask again on every page load.

Cookies are not programs. They cannot run code, install software, or access files on your device. They contain only the information the site itself has written into them.

Cookies have a lifetime. Some expire when you close your browser (session cookies). Others persist until a set date (persistent cookies). This site uses persistent cookies only for consent records; all other site functionality uses session cookies or no cookies at all.

3. The Consent Cookies Written by CQI Consent

CQI Consent writes exactly two cookies when you interact with the consent banner. These are written only after you make a choice — or, in US mode, immediately on page load if your browser is sending a Global Privacy Control signal.

Cookie name Set by Type Lifetime Values Purpose
cqi_consent_marketing This site (first-party) Persistent 365 days 1 = granted
0 = denied		 Records your consent choice. Read by server-side tracking on every affiliate link click to determine whether the click is routed and recorded as consented.
gcd This site (first-party) Persistent 365 days 11p5 = granted
11p0 = denied		 Google Consent Mode v2 signal. Read by Google Analytics 4 to determine its measurement behaviour. In denied state, GA4 operates in cookieless modelling mode only.

3.1 What these cookies do not contain

Neither cookie contains your name, email address, IP address, details of pages you visited before making a consent choice, or any data from affiliate networks or advertising platforms. They contain only your consent choice and when it expires.

3.2 Cookie lifetime

The default lifetime for both cookies is 365 days from the date of your choice. You will not be asked again for one year unless you clear your cookies, use a different browser or device, or actively withdraw your consent.

4. Why These Cookies Are Set

4.1 Affiliate link tracking

This site contains affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link, you are redirected via a server-side tracking route. The cqi_consent_marketing cookie is read at the moment of the click.

  • If the value is 1 (granted): the click is routed to the affiliate network and recorded as a consented click. The affiliate network may set its own cookies on the merchant site you visit.
  • If the value is 0 (denied): the click is logged with a denied status and is not routed in a way that sets affiliate network cookies from this site.
  • If the cookie is absent: the click is logged as unknown.
Affiliate networks may set their own cookies on merchant sites you visit after clicking an affiliate link. Those cookies are governed by the merchant's own privacy and cookie policies, not by this policy.

4.2 Google Analytics

This site uses Google Analytics 4. GA4 reads the gcd cookie to determine its operating mode.

  • Granted (11p5): GA4 operates in full measurement mode and may set analytics cookies including _ga and related identifiers on your device.
  • Denied (11p0): GA4 operates in cookieless modelling mode. It collects limited, aggregated signals for conversion modelling but does not set analytics cookies on your device.

Google Analytics cookies, where set, are governed by Google's Privacy Policy.

4.3 Strictly necessary cookies

Some cookies this site uses are strictly necessary for the site to function. These do not require your consent and are not controlled by CQI Consent. They include:

  • WordPress session cookies (wordpress_logged_in_*, wp-settings-*) — set only when you are logged in to the site. Not set for regular visitors.
  • WooCommerce session cookies (woocommerce_session_*) — set when you add items to a cart or begin checkout, where the site provides an e-commerce function.

Strictly necessary cookies are exempt from consent requirements under UK-GDPR, PECR, and equivalent legislation.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Cookie / activity UK-GDPR / PECR US (CCPA) Basis
cqi_consent_marketing Consent (opt-in required) Opt-out right UK/EU: Consent freely given, specific, and informed. US: Active by default; opt-out via banner or GPC signal.
gcd (Google Consent Mode v2) Consent (opt-in required) Opt-out right Written in response to the same consent choice as cqi_consent_marketing. Same legal basis applies.
Affiliate click routing Legitimate interests Legitimate interests Server-side tracking of consented affiliate clicks. No cookie is set by the tracking route itself; it reads an existing consent cookie.
Strictly necessary cookies Exempt Exempt Required for core site functionality. No consent required under PECR Regulation 6(4) or equivalent.

6. How Consent Is Collected

6.1 UK mode (opt-in)

If this site is configured in UK mode, the consent banner blocks page interaction until you make a choice. No marketing cookies are set before you accept or decline. This mode is required for UK-GDPR and PECR compliance on sites targeting visitors in the United Kingdom.

  • Accept All: cqi_consent_marketing = 1 and gcd = 11p5 are written. Affiliate tracking and Google Analytics operate normally.
  • Decline: cqi_consent_marketing = 0 and gcd = 11p0 are written. Affiliate clicks are logged as denied. GA4 enters cookieless mode.
  • Press Escape: treated as a Decline. Identical result to clicking the Decline button.

6.2 US mode (opt-out)

If this site is configured in US mode, an informational banner appears at the bottom of the page. Marketing cookies are active by default. You may opt out at any time using the banner, or by sending a Global Privacy Control signal from your browser.

  • Accept or continue without action: cqi_consent_marketing = 1 and gcd = 11p5 are written on first page load.
  • Decline via banner: cqi_consent_marketing = 0 and gcd = 11p0 are written.
  • Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal: if your browser sends a Sec-GPC: 1 header or exposes navigator.globalPrivacyControl = true, the site detects this automatically before the banner initialises. cqi_consent_marketing = 0 and gcd = 11p0 are written and no banner is shown. No action is required from you.
GPC is supported natively by Brave browser, and by Firefox when the privacy.globalprivacycontrol.enabled flag is enabled in about:config. Under California law (CCPA/CPRA), this site is required to honour GPC as a valid opt-out request.

7. Your Rights

7.1 How to change or withdraw consent

Your consent choice is stored in the cqi_consent_marketing cookie on your device. You may change or withdraw it at any time.

  1. Clear your browser cookies for this site. The consent banner will reappear on your next visit, allowing you to make a new choice.
  2. Use your browser's cookie management tools to delete the cqi_consent_marketing cookie. Most browsers allow this under Settings or Preferences, then Privacy or Cookies.
  3. Contact the site operator using the details in Section 9 to request that your consent be noted as withdrawn. The cookie itself must be cleared on your device, as the site cannot delete a cookie already written to your browser.

7.2 UK and EU residents

Under UK-GDPR you have the right to be informed (met by this policy), the right to access your data, the right to rectification, the right to erasure, the right to restrict processing, and the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. To exercise any of these rights, contact the site operator using the details in Section 9. Requests are responded to within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

7.3 US residents

If you are resident in California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, or another US state with applicable privacy legislation, you have the right to know what personal information is collected about you, to delete personal information (subject to exceptions), to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information, and to non-discrimination for exercising these rights.

This site honours the Global Privacy Control signal as a valid opt-out request. To exercise other rights, use the Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information link in the consent banner, or contact the site operator using the details in Section 9.

8. Third-Party Cookies

When you click an affiliate link on this site and visit a merchant site, the merchant or affiliate network may set cookies on your device. This site does not control those cookies and is not responsible for them. Refer to the merchant's own cookie and privacy policy for details.

Google Analytics 4 cookies (_ga, _ga_XXXXXXXXXX) are set by Google when consent is granted (gcd = 11p5). These are governed by Google's Privacy Policy. Google may process data in the United States under Google's EU-US Data Privacy Framework certification.

9. Full Cookie Inventory

The table below lists every cookie category active on this site. The affiliate tracking row should be updated to name the specific networks in use.

Name Set by Category Lifetime Consent required Purpose
cqi_consent_marketing This site Consent record 365 days No (records your choice) Stores your consent decision. Required for the consent mechanism to function.
gcd This site Consent record 365 days No (records your choice) Google Consent Mode v2 signal. Controls GA4 measurement mode.
wordpress_* This site Strictly necessary Session No (exempt) WordPress authentication. Set only when logged in to the admin area. Not set for regular visitors.
_ga, _ga_* Google Analytics 2 years Yes Google Analytics 4. Set only when consent is granted (gcd = 11p5). Distinguishes unique visitors and sessions.
Set by merchant or network Affiliate network Affiliate tracking 30–90 days (varies) Yes Attribution of affiliate clicks. Set on the merchant site after you click an affiliate link. Governed by the merchant's cookie policy.

10. Contact

This site is operated by H D Fraser. For questions about this Cookie Policy, to exercise your privacy rights, or to request deletion of your data:

11. Updates to This Policy

This policy will be updated when new cookies are added, an affiliate network or analytics platform changes, relevant legislation or ICO guidance changes, or a new version of CQI Consent changes the consent signals written. The version number and effective date at the top of this policy will be updated on each revision. Material changes will be signalled by a new version of the consent banner appearing on your next visit.

Cookie Policy v1.1 — Governed by The Content Framework CQIP standard. thecontentframework.com